Donald Trump’s second term has sparked an unexpected clean‑energy boom, with new capacity slated to rise by a record 45 gigawatts this year—roughly the average demand of Turkey, a 25 per cent increase over 2024’s record. Analysts point to higher oil prices from the Iran war, surging AI data‑centre demand and a rush to capture expiring tax credits as key drivers.

Despite a campaign promise to curb renewables, Trump’s team has shown pragmatism. Izzet Bensusan, chief executive of Captona, noted that power demand cannot be flattened out, and the administration has ended subsidies for costly fossil fuels while still encouraging new solar and wind. S&P Global forecasts a near‑third jump in solar capacity and almost a 50 per cent rise in wind for 2026.

Developers are racing ahead of market: the One Big Beautiful Bill Act cut tax credits but imposed a July 4 deadline for project start and a 2030 completion date, prompting a construction sprint. The US power market is projected to grow 39 per cent by 2035, driven by data‑centre expansion and electrification of transport and appliances.

Court rulings and administrative resistance have slowed progress, yet the market remains buoyant. “It’s a good time to be a developer,” said Ethan Zindler of Bloomberg NEF. With rising electricity prices and a resilient demand curve, clean energy projects continue to attract investment amid political uncertainty.